Over $400 million spent on Almaty roads in 2011

61.7 billion tenge ($415 million) were spent on Almaty roads in 2011, Tengrinews.kz reports citing head of passenger transport and roads department Vladimir Merenkov as saying at the press-conference in Almaty. This amount also includes the costs on startup of the subway and construction of the Eastern Bypass Road.

According to Merenkov, 18.7 km of new roads, 5 turn-around areas for non-Almaty transport and 23 pedestrian crossings were constructed in Almaty last year. Besides, 5.6 km of roads were overhauled and 209 km of roads got small repairs.

“We have introduced them (turn-around areas) and hope to start them up in a month. They will be used for suburban and city buses. They will be equipped with food service areas, toilets and dispatcher’s offices,” Merenkov said.

Besides, there are construction works on six junctions at the crossings of Kuldzhinskiy road and Khaliullin street, Raiymbek and Momyshuly, Al-Farabi and Gagarin, Al-Farabi and Mustafin, Sain and Toraigyrov and Sain and Zhubanov streets.

Head of Department also noted that construction of four through streets and construction of the second stage of the first line of subway started in Almaty. Construction of 16 pedestrian crossings, 3 traffic lights and reconstruction of 25 traffic lights is planned in 2012. 6.1 km of roads will be overhauled and 181 km will get minor repairs.

Entrance of non-Almaty public transport will be limited in Almaty in 2012. Entering transport will drive through turn-around areas, leave the cargoes and passengers and go back to their regions without entering the city’s center.